Editor’s note: This is the first in an ongoing series of stories about the proposed Dover Bypass, a roadway project by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department that will take traffic that normally would use U.S 7 N and route motorists around the city.

DOVER — Not everyone thinks the construction of the proposed Dover Bypass is a good idea.

In May, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department held an open forum designed to get public input for the proposed improvements to State Highway 7 around Dover. The proposals concern the construction of a new two-lane highway that will allow motorists to bypass the city.

According to the responses from some Dover residents, marked concerns for residential comfort and fairness and local economy are rising.

The following comments were provided to The Courier by the AHTD. These comments were made in written form during the public input period.

Betty Ann Lynch Burnett, a Dover resident, argued that the proposed highway changes threaten not only her personal property, but privacy.

“About three years ago, I built a new home on our place,” said Burnett. “And now, the Arkansas Highway Department proposes to move within 500 feet of my front door. My family owns much of the property along old Highway 7 North. You have indicated that that section of the old highway will be eliminated.”

Burnett also stated the proposed highway does nothing to accommodate the current residents, and that “the commuters are the segment of the population the Arkansas Highway Department is accommodating”. Another Dover resident, William Grady, stated the project would cross over about 2,800 feet of his property.

“We believe that the impact on drainage of the acres has been seriously underestimated,” said Grady. “All of the fields that will be cut in half will experience a drainage backup since the bypass will dam up the east to southwest water flow and drainage.”

Grady is also concerned the noise will pose an annoyance to local residents.

“At 60 miles-per-hour, the traffic noise in our residential area will be terrible,” he said.

James Lynch of Dover stated his concerns that the residents of Dover are being overlooked by the highway department.

“Looking at the proposal, how do you think that the Dover Fire Department is going to get access to the Highway 7,” said Lynch. “This emergency service is a vital part of our community. At this time, there are no problems with them going to the north or south on the highway. It appears to me that the new routing will result in slow response times from the fire department.”

Much like Grady, Lynch also asks that the highway department consider the losses that residents will take due to the proposed highway construction.

“Our family has lost property to the highway department every time that Highway 7 has been improved,” Lynch said. “I feel it would be only fair for us to get our property back from the state when they are finished using it.”